Justin A. Cohn

About Ice Chips

Justin A. Cohn, pro sports coordinator for The Journal Gazette, has been covering the Fort Wayne Komets since 1997. His reporting includes game stories from home and away, features about the players and personalities associated with the Komets, plus coverage of issues affecting hockey at all levels. A native of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., Cohn graduated from Emory University in Atlanta. He can be reached at 260-461-8429 or by email at
jcohn@jg.net.

May 12, 2008

Yup, they're playing that music from "The Karate Kid" when Ralph Macchio starts beating the pulp out of the Cobra Kai. Nothing says Game 7 like that, eh?

There are people scalping tickets outside. For an International Hockey League game. Nuts.

Larry Sterling will be in net for the Port Huron Icehawks tonight. Nick Boucher for the Komets.

By the way, I'm still baffled by an e-mail I got from a reader claiming I had some bias against Kevin Reiter because I've given Boucher some praise. Flabbergasting. It's Game 7 and Al Sims is going with Boucher. Doesn't that tell you something? Anyway, for the record, I think they're both outstanding goalies.

The referee will be John Searle.

And I poked around about the Playoff MVP award. That will be decided by commissioner Paul Pickard and vice-president of hockey operations Brad Jones, with a little input from other people who don't include me.

Hopefully, they do a better job than Richard Brosal did in 2003. Brosal came along and polled all of the media before making his choice. Very few, if any, picked Tom Lawson who ultimately got the award. He had a great playoffs, but there were others who played better.

Anyway, Pickard played, coached and general managed in the game. I expect he can make a solid choice. Jones played and coached, too, so I expect he can, too.

If the Komets win, and were I to pick now, I'd go with Konstantin Shafranov. That could all change in a matter of hours, though.

May 11, 2008

After the Komets lost Game 4 of the Turner Cup Finals and fell to a 3-1 series deficit, I made a prediction. Beleaguered by all the travel, I figured, as I usually do, it was all a conspiracy against me. So, I told everyone in the press box, the following would happen: The Komets would squeak out a win in Game 5, so that I could go over 3,000 miles in the playoffs, and that they'd decimate the Icehawks in Game 6 at Port Huron, Mich., forcing a Game 7.

Then, just so there'd be nothing fun to cover in the end, I predicted the Komets would lose the finale.

I bring this up just because the first two steps have come true. So you know who to hate if the Komets do in fact lose Monday.

All that being said, no way will it happen. There are less than 1,500 tickets remaining for Game 7. (Tickets go back on sale at Memorial Coliseum at 10 a.m.) That means this could wind up the largest sporting event ever in Fort Wayne. The Komets won't lose with that kind of crowd there. No way.

Can't you just feel the Icehawks' jitters all the way from here?

It'll be an amazing atmosphere. They make fun of the lowly International Hockey League in places like Peoria, but let's see them come up with this kind of event. They rag on the Komets in Flint, but that's because they can't stomach that a fellow IHL city can have such a well-polished product, so beloved by the fans, with so much media attention, when they can hardly get people to the games.

This will be Fort Wayne's time to shine -- the hockey team, the fans, the Coliseum -- and I don't expect a letdown. So let's all behave, have fun and enjoy the night. Win or lose, it's been an exciting series and an even better season.

Ben Smith has some Komets related stuff on his blog. Check out the part about the Freedom football team. You thought you were mad before that they took some Saturday night dates?

Though he doesn't have the courtesy to link to the coverage he's griping about, here's a Flint Journal writer ripping on Fort Wayne yet again. By the way, getting neutral goal judges to a game wouldn't cost that much. Give me a break.

PORT HURON, Mich. -- The following are a series of vignettes from the Game 6 of the Turner Cup Finals.

I arrive at the game and there's a definite buzz in the building. The largest crowd of the season, 3,129 fans at McMorran Arena. Not a sellout, according to the numbers, but they announce it as one anyway. Still, nothing compared to Memorial Coliseum on a good night.

I'm thinking the Komets are going to win big in this one, until a source informs me David Hukalo, the Komets' best defensive player, is out with a hamstring injury for the rest of the series. Also, defenseman Kevin Bertram is said to be out with a rib injury. Suddenly, it seems grim for the Komets.

Bertram is in the starting lineup. I'm reminded of the Komets' heart.

Luciano Aquino takes a questionable penalty 1:10 in and I'm reminded the Komets can't get a call in McMorran Arena.

Matt Reynolds strips the puck of Jamie Carroll and scores on a short-handed breakaway and I'm reminded the Komets have the veteran savvy Port Huron lacks.

Terry Marchant makes it 2-0 with a shot from the right circle that skips between the legs of goaltender Larry Sterling. Marchant was benched in the first two games of the series; putting him back in was a brilliant decision. Sterling looks more nervous than in his Game 5 loss.

Fort Wayne coach Al Sims had me confused with a timeout late in the second period. It was brilliant though. He rested his players before a key faceoff and it led to a 2-on-1 rush and an Aquino goal. The Fort Wayne fans, about 600 of them, are raucous. No other minor-league team has such a devoted fan base, at least not one that I've come across.

Sterling is yanked. Marty Magers comes in and stumps the Komets, but we've seen that before haven't we?

Mitch Woods comes onto the ice with 15 stitches in his thigh, thanks to a skate grazing him in the second period. Ouch. That guy is tough.

I can't believe how often Sergei Durdin gives the puck away and continues to get ice time.

The Icehawks get two goals in the third and I'm starting to think I'll have to rewrite my story. Then, finally, the Komets play the physical game I've been calling for the entire series. Brent Henley was an animal out there. Even P.C. Drouin got chippy. The Icehawks couldn't deal with it.

What would Larry Schmitt say here? "Komets win! Komets win! We'll see you Monday night for Game 7." Final score: 4-3 Fort Wayne in Game 6. Not bad for a team that was down 3-1 in this series days ago.

Icehawks coach Stan Drulia is standing outside the officials' room, berating referee Ryan Carroll, who called a good game. Drulia was probably upset about a trip that wasn't called with less than two minutes left. I could go either way on making that call, but I'd rather see the boys play.

Some Icehawks official, ticket-seller or something pretty much has to be restrained, he's so irate with either the loss or the officiating or both. All I can think is, what comes around, goes around. The officiating may have robbed Fort Wayne of a victory here in Game 2. But the Icehawks seem to have forgotten that.

Komets president Michael Franke comes over to remind me that tickets go on sale at noon Sunday.

Fort Wayne's locker room is jubilant. They're saying all the right things, but they also know they played all the regular season for home-ice advantage. Now they get it -- for Game 7 of the finals.

I think to myself, there's no way they're going to lose this. Port Huron's too rattled. Memorial Coliseum is too hard a place to play. The comeback would make too good a story.

May 10, 2008

PORT HURON, Mich. -- Mitch Woods missed much of the second period after taking a skate across his thigh. He took about 15 stitches, general manager David Franke said, and will be back for the third period.

PORT HURON, Mich. -- Think Al Sims can't coach? He just made one of the greatest time outs I've ever seen. Late in the second period, his team up by two goals, a faceoff in the Fort Wayne zone, and he calls timeout. I was scratching my head on that one.

But 11 seconds later, Luciano Aquino finishes off a 2-on-1 rush for a 3-0 Fort Wayne lead. The Icehawks did answer less than a minute later with a Tab Lardner goal, but Colin Chaulk came right back to make it 4-1 for the Komets and that's where we are with one minute remaining in the second period.

All night long, the Komets have been energetic. They've actually been hitting people, something we hadn't seen in the series. The Icehawks? Jittery. Very jittery.

PORT HURON, Mich. -- An Ice Chips reader asked the following question of me: "Why, if we have a backup referee in the building during the finals, doesn't the IHL go with two referees? Wouldn't another set of eyes help?"

He said, first of all, any change like that would have to approved by the Board of Governors and that's a complicated process. Secondly, since everyone, players, coaches, officials, etc., got accustomed to having one referee in the regular season, it would be too drastic a change to suddenly have two referees out there.

Personally, I agree. It would change too much and be unfair all around to go with that change in the finals. I think the officiating in the finals has been pretty good, actually. So far, anyway.

PORT HURON, Mich. -- It's been a long season and, yes, the Komets are a bit beat up. Forward David Hukalo, the International Hockey League's Best Defensive Forward, is out for the rest of the Turner Cup Finals with a back injury. Defenseman Kevin Bertram, I'm told, will dress but likely won't play at all because of a rib injury.

So, the Komets will insert defenseman Ken Dufresne, who has yet to play a game in the professional ranks.

It should be interesting.

By the way, the Komets, who trail the series 3-2, will go with goaltender Nick Boucher, as expected.

Allen County is now accepting bids for a new scoreboard for Memorial Coliseum. Building general manager Randy Brown said the bids were let Friday for the scoreboard and also goal cameras. The cameras will allow hockey officials to review questionable goals. County officials expect the new scoreboard will be of better quality than a scoreboard currently used inside Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The board will allow for instant replay and slow-motion video, Brown said. The bids will be opened May 27.

(Whether or not the International Hockey League would allow review of disputed goals is another matter entirely.)

May 09, 2008

Random thoughts on the Turner Cup Finals, which the Komets trail 3-2 to the Port Huron Icehawks, heading into Game 6 at McMorran Arena on Saturday:

All the pressure is on the Icehawks.

The Komets were so dependent on their rookies in the regular seasons, it's come back to haunt them in the finals because Luciano Aquino, Mitch Woods and Mathieu Curadeau have been off their normal games.

Port Huron's fiery goalie, Larry Sterling, may blow a gasket before this series is over.

Fort Wayne's fiery goalie, Nick Boucher, may blow a gasket before this series is over.

Konstantin Shafranov is the oldest player in the series and he's been the best.

Hard to believe the Komets were the most penalized team in the IHL this season; they're not playing physically at all.

Stan Drulia is an underrated coach.

After drawing literally hundreds of fans to some games, it's nice to see people actually showing up to a series in Port Huron.

Doesn't that make them fair-weather fans?

Isn't having Sergei Durdin and Jake Pence on the ice at the same time, during a tied game, risky?

The Komets should go after Port Huron's Jamie Lovell and Muskegon's Dan Riedel in the offseason.

Why hasn't Craig Welker officiated a game in the finals?

Brandon Warner should be getting more ice time for the Komets.

The IHL should bring in goal judges from neutral teams in the playoffs; it wouldn't cost that much.

By the way, I'm scheduled to be on Talkin' Sports, on 100.1 FM, Saturday. The show airs 10-11 a.m. I'm also awaiting details, for our Port Huron readers, on when I'll be on Port Huron radio Saturday morning.

Finally, I'll have a short spot Saturday night on "Sounding Off," on Indiana News Center. That'll be Saturday, 7 p.m., on NBC 33.

May 08, 2008

C'mon, you know I was playing the whole reverse psychology thing when I predicted a Fort Wayne loss tonight. It was all sarcasm.

Oh, ye, of little faith.

The Komets won 4-2 at Memorial Coliseum, trimming their deficit to the Port Huron Icehawks in the best-of-seven Turner Cup Finals to 3-2. Game 6 will be at McMorran Arena on Saturday night.

Yeah, thanks again league for that 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 format. It's not like gas prices are high or anything.

The Komets were tense before this game and coach Al Sims tried to take the pressure off by stressing to his team they only needed to concentrate on one thing: Defense.

He didn't want them to think about offense, shooting, goaltender Larry Sterling, or anything but defense. The goals would come, he said, and they did.

It helped that the power play, albeit ugly once again, was productive with two goals after the Komets went 1 for 20 in the first four games of the series. It helped that P.C. Drouin netted a goal. It helped that Nick Boucher was solid in net. (If Sims doesn't start him in Game 6, I'd be stunned.)

And it helped that the Komets were more eager to avoid being a dismal part of history. It was pride. Lots of it.

But now they've got to do what they haven't in this series so far: Not put a stinker on the ice at McMorran. It would help if they started hitting people because they still didn't Thursday. It would help it Luciano Aquino played less tentative because they need his offense. It would help if they didn't cough up the puck in their own zone, as Sergei Durdin did tonight, causing a goal.

The Komets have a couple of days to devise a plan. And the Icehaws can stew over a missed opportunity. All the pressure's on Port Huron and the Icehawks looked mighty nervous at times tonight. A couple days of thinking about it could add to that.

Now I think it's coming back to Fort Wayne for a Game 7. But it's not like I'm in the prediction business or anything.

Didn't I say that Sergei Durdin would have a role to play? Well, I was a day late, but he just set up P.C. Drouin for a slapshot goal and the Komets lead the Icehawks 2-0 late in the second period of Game 3 of the finals.

Port Huron leads the series 3-1.

Fort Wayne has looked tentative throughout the period. Their passing has been off. Their power play woeful at 0 for 4. (Port Huron doesn't have a power play, by the way.) And their decision making just hasn't been good.

But this goal has brought the place to life and I don't see Fort Wayne blowing a two-goal lead at home. I don't think.

The Komets came out a little tentatively -- they still weren't hitting anything -- but then a flurry of chances got them going. Mathieu Curadeau was the only one to put the puck in the net, during a power play, and the Komets lead the Port Huron Icehawks 1-0 after one period in Game 5 of the Turner Cup Finals.

Port Huron leads the series 3-1.

Curadeau's goal came seconds after Mitch Woods put one past Icehawks goalie Larry Sterling, only to see if ricochet off the far post and out. I think Sterling looks a tad nervous. But he hasn't been in this position before, at any level, I'm told.

The Komets really have rallied behind Konstantin Shafranov, the only player who's shown up in every game for them. He came out hard and really got the Komets going, in my opinion, tonight.

May 07, 2008

PORT HURON, Mich. -- The Komets were handled easily by the Port Huron Icehawks, who won 5-1 in Game 4 of the Turner Cup Finals.

That means by this time tomorrow, the Icehawks could be hoisting the Cup on Memorial Coliseum ice. So will they? Well, this won't be popular, but I think they will.

Coming off the ice, sitting at the lockers, talking, the Komets didn't have the look or the sound of a team that had much belief it could come back. Sorry, but that's the way it seemed in there, which was quite different from the never-say-die attitude they fed me a couple days earlier.

However, I could just be giving you some reverse psychology here, and wouldn't that be wily of me to get your team going? After all, Journal Gazette columnist Ben Smith reminds me that in 2005, the Komets had the same postgame tone about them in the semifinals, and they came back to win three straight against Rockford. And the likes of Colin Chaulk, P.C. Drouin and David Hukalo, key figures in that 2005 comeback, are still on this team.

This is all about heart. Some guys, no doubt, may start thinking, "Hey, I don't really want to get on the bus for another road trip." Others know that being part of arguably the biggest disappointment in Fort Wayne sports history would be a dubious honor of which they want no part.

All I can tell you for sure is the Komets stunk up the joint tonight. They looked good very early but they coughed up the puck, missed defensive assignments, couldn't shoot into a wide-open net and I don't think I saw a decent hit all game. The third period should have been very telling; instead it coasted by with the Komets not sending much of a message by being physical. Were I a fan, I would find that particularly worrisome, especially from a team that claimed to have so much toughness.

To their credit, I heard Port Huron players not taking the Komets lightly going into Game 5. One said, "Let's get it done." Another, "They (the Komets) won't go down easy."

The Komets have been all about challenging themselves this season, even as they were dominating the regular-season standings. Now they have to meet their greatest challenge. But this dispiriting loss may have taken the life out of them. At least that's what their faces and their words said.

But actions speak louder than words. And only the Komets' actions will determine if this series goes more than one game.

PORT HURON, Mich. -- The Komets trail the Port Huron Icehawks 5-1 at the end of two periods. Fort Wayne is coughing up the puck left and right, not defending well and not getting great goaltending either.

They just don't look themselves. The rink has something to do with it, but more than anything the Icehawks are stifling them and the Komets aren't playing their game. And where is the physical play? The Komets aren't hitting anything. At this point, they might as well get physical and try to get something going.

Meanwhile, the Komets have had a slew of chances at open nets and have done nothing with them. Brandon Warner, Mitch Woods and Terry Marchant all should have scored but were left shaking their heads.

PORT HURON, Mich. -- A game that began with such promise has turned sour for the Fort Wayne Komets, who trail the Port Huron Icehawks 2-1 after one period in Game 4 of the Turner Cup Finals.

The Komets' Konstantin Shafranov opened the scoring with a wrist shot from 25 feet out and Kevin Reiter was gloving lots of close-range shots. But a power play resulted in a goal for Josh Aspenlind and four-on-four play brought a Jeff Zehr goal on a tricky wrist shot that seemed to catch Reiter by surprise.

That took some life out of the Komets, who trail the series 2-1.

During the intermission, there's a guy wearing a Komets jersey who's acting like he can't skate. First, I wonder if the Icehawks bought the jersey for the act. Second, I wonder if they'll try to return it.

PORT HURON, Mich. -- Just ran into Kevin Reiter. He will be in net for the Komets. So for those of you thinking Al Sims' breaking from his goalie rotation during the first round was a jinx, you can relax because he's not doing it again.

The Komets trail the best-of-seven Turner Cup Finals against the Port Huron Icehawks 2-1. The referee tonight will be John Searle, so I'm setting the over/under on power plays at 16.

By the way, I'm keeping on eye on defenseman Sergei Durdin in this game. I have a feeling he'll be a factor with either his offense or his giveaways. Should be fun.

May 06, 2008

Well, it's been a busy couple of days at Ice Chips. Record numbers of readership and record numbers of comments on a single post. But despite the pleas of some, I recant nothing. I still say it was far too quiet at Sunday's game and I still think you can be respectful and a good fan all at the same time.

But I digress.

So, the topic on my mind is what the Komets will do in Game 4 at McMorran Arena on Wednesday. (The Komets trail the Port Huron Icehawks 2-1 in the best-of-seven Turner Cup Finals, in case you haven't been paying attention.) Despite their success in the regular season, going 7-1, it's clear a rink that's 15 feet shorter than regulation causes the Komets some problems because they can't execute their offense as they normally do. The best way to see that? Watch when they try to set up P.C. Drouin or Guy Dupuis at the point. They don't have the time or spacing to get the pucks there.

I asked some Fort Wayne players about all this and they agreed, the Komets must play a different game at McMorran. One player pointed out that the regular-season statistics up there are deceiving because wonderful goaltending benefited the Komets.

The Port Huron Times-Herald is on the Komets for their "diving. Click here to read it. Do the Komets do their share? Yes. Do the Icehawks, too? Absolutely. And there's no way you can tell me the Icehawks aren't playing dirtier. Just watch goaltender Larry Sterling's stick. I don't know why goalies get a pass, even if they're spearing guys.

It appears, at least for now, that the International Hockey League will again play with six teams next season. Chicago will remain dormant after failing to come to an agreement with the Sears Centre. I still have a feeling there will be a seventh team bolting from another league to the IHL, though.

May 04, 2008

Uh-oh, perhaps the Port Huron Icehawks have awoken the slumbering giants. Or, perhaps, it was just one of those nights.

Just when it looked like the Komets were toast, they came out with a more typical Fort Wayne effort, winning 5-1 in Game 3 of the Turner Cup Finals. The Icehawks' lead is down to 2-1, with the next game coming Wednesday at McMorran Arena in Port Huron, Mich.

Credit the Komets' mettle in this one. They didn't get rattled by the 3-2 overtime loss on the road Saturday. So often, teams talk about not giving up, only to lay an egg. The Komets actually delivered, even though the fans at Memorial Coliseum were in a somber silence for too much of the night.

Lot of credit should also go to Fort Wayne coach Al Sims. He made some brilliant decisions, including putting Justin Hodgman, Colin Chaulk and Luciano Aquino back together, inserting Terry Marchant into the lineup and going with Nick Boucher in net.

Hodgman had two goals and an assist. Aquino had three assists. Chaulk had one goal and one assists. Marchant had a key third-period goal. Boucher stopped 25 of 26 shots.

And the Komets finally got some traffic in front of the net, which caused problems for Port Huron goalie Larry Sterling. The Komets felt Sterling was gassed, having played three games in three nights, and was having trouble with his agility and rebounds because of it. Hard to argue with them on those points.

The key now: The Komets can't rest on their laurels just because they didn't turn in a dud performance tonight. The Icehawks will be tricky on their ice in Game 4.

And by the way, I don't think the Icehawks should be too down on themselves. Would they have thought they'd be up a game at this point, having played only once at home?

Click here to read the Port Huron Times-Herald's blog. Paul Costanzo started the night picking the Icehawks in five games and quickly made the strike-through.

The Icehawks didn't make players available for interviews with their own media, I heard. The IHL shouldn't allow that, as far as I'm concerned. If players want to give the "no comment," on instructions from their coach, that's another story.

On the Konstantin Shafranov shot from Game 3, the one that wasn't ruled a goal, I've heard nothing from league insiders that suggests it was, in fact, a goal. The people I trust most on the issue say it wasn't. The Komets, as you would expect, are still believing it was. Doesn't matter much now, though.

Not to grandstand here, but I'm hearing from a lot of people in other towns about how awful some of the Fort Wayne fans have been. By other people, I'm talking about men, women and children, who are being harassed, threatened, showered with beer, just because they might clap because someone from another team scored a nice goal. Not all Fort Wayne fans are like this, of course, but for those who are: I think you should bear in mind you're representing not only a team's fan base but also the community with your actions. Just my opinion. It's a wonder other cities are ragging on Fort Wayne so much these days.

Some in the Fort Wayne media contingent are muttering about having a "bad feeling" about where this is heading for the Komets. After taking it to the Port Huron Icehawks early, the Komets' lead is only 2-1 through two periods.

I still think the Komets are going to win, however, and it seems some from the Port Huron contingent can't stop complaining about how the officiating is so skewed in favor of Fort Wayne. Yeah, I've been hearing that all season long. It makes no sense. The Komets are the league's strongest team business-wise. If there were a conspiracy, wouldn't it be in favor of a team like Port Huron that's barely staying afloat?

Anyway, I can't believe how quiet this building has been. The Komets' fans seem more stunned and resigned to catastrophe than supportive. Hate to say it, but it's like a tomb in here for the most part.

Terry Marchant is in the lineup tonight, instead of Evgeny Saidachev. Lots more power plays awarded by referee Ryan Carroll.

But more than anything, the Komets are hitting, passing, looking more like their usual selves. It's still way to early for Fort Wayne fans to get overenthusiastic -- let's remember, they trail the series 2-0 -- but this doesn't look like a team that's ready to break out the golf clubs.

PORT HURON, Mich. -- At the end of this post, you can listen to my postgame interview with Komets coach Al Sims. He's obviously upset, after his team lost 3-2 in overtime to the Port Huron Icehawks, putting his team down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.

Sims was flummoxed that the Komets could control so much of the play -- almost all the third period and overtime was spent in the Port Huron zone -- yet Fort Wayne lost, courtesy of a Jamie Lovell goal.

He won it on a slapshot from 30 feet out, after winning a center-ice battle for the puck with Jake Pence. That set off a 2-on-1 rush and sent the Komets home flabbergasted.

Well, if you control all of that play and only score two goals, it's clear to me, it's about finishing. The Komets aren't the offensive team right now we're accustomed to seeing.

The Komets were upset about the officiating on many levels. The first of which was that referee Bob Langdon awarded only three power plays all night, even as players were getting mugged all over the ice. I'm backing up the league on this one. This is the best referee in the International Hockey League. We all like him because he lets the players decide the game. Deal with it. You can't complain about Jim Hawthorne and Kevin Graber calling 20 power plays, then complain again because the opposite happens. That being said, there was a lot of dirty stuff going on out there, particularly by the Icehawks. (That means you, Larry Sterling, Steve Hildenbrand and B.J. Adams.)

OK, then there were the two controversial goals or, depending on how you view them, non-goals. Jeff Zehr got one for Port Huron when the puck ricocheted off his glove and went in. It counted and it should have. He made no batting motion to put it in; it was unintentional. It doesn't matter if it goes off his nose and in; if it's not on purpose, it counts.

Then there was the Konstantin Shafranov supposed goal that didn't count. Shafranov believes it went in, just under the cross bar. I was the lone non-IHL person who watched the replay about 20 times, at various speeds, and it appeared to hit the cross bar. It was grainy and it was from high up, but I'm pretty confident. And I showed it to some other people I trust, who have played the game at a high level, and they agreed -- no goal. So correct call there, too, it seems.

In the end, the Komets aren't scoring. They've been taken out of their game. The superstars aren't discernible right now. And we're two losses away from the biggest collapse in Fort Wayne sports history, if you ask me.

May 03, 2008

PORT HURON, Mich. -- I watched replay of the controversial Konstantin Shafranov third-period shot about 20 times, at various speeds, with many people who know hockey. We all agreed, it hit the crossbar.

PORT HURON, Mich. -- In a tense Game 2 of the Turner Cup Finals, it's tied at 2. The Icehawks just tied it up on a Jeff Zehr power-play goal. A Joe Markusen shot came his way and it redirected off Zehr's glove and in. I guess it should have counted because it didn't seem like he intended to redirect it and referee Bob Langdon, who I wish could call every game of the series, didn't hesitate in ruling it a goal, even as the Komets complained.

It's been pretty chippy. A lot of stuff going on after the whistle. That's why Langdon is great -- he lets them play the game.

By the way, Larry Sterling is such a hothead in goal. He's dirty and he never seems to stop yapping at the officials. Were I an Icehawks fan, I'd love it. I bet the Komets fans are sick of watching him, though.

PORT HURON, Mich. -- Yes, the McMorran Arena ice surface is 15 feet shorter than regulation. Every time I'm up here, I reminded of that so quickly.

You can tell because those races for iced pucks are so much shorter. Also, any time you play the puck, you pretty much have to be checked; it can't be avoided. Power plays seem longer because when the short-handed team clears the zone, it comes right back in. The neutral zone is tiny.

What do you have to do to win here? You can't make dumb passes because any mistake will be amplified. You have to be physical in the corners. And you absolutely have to keep traffic out from in front of your net because the goalie's going to be busy.

There are some empty seats here, but it's probably a sellout crowd. (Capacity is 3,262.)

PORT HURON, Mich. -- Greetings and salutations from McMorran Arena. I will admit, I've been one of the harshest on the normally puny crowds for games up here. But this place is buzzing. There was a ton of people, from Fort Wayne and Port Huron, tailgating in the parking lot. And there was a line of Komets fans out the door. This will be exciting.

By the way, no surprise: Kevin Reiter is starting in net for the Komets and Bob Langdon is the referee.

The Journal Gazette's coverage from the Komets' Game 1 stumble can be read here.

Someone from Port Huron asked me when the last time the fans at Memorial Coliseum had booed their own team was. Honestly, I can't remember, but it must have been in early December.

You know, before the Komets became the dominant team of the regular season.

On Friday, the Komets looked mortal once again and they were jeered once again. The Komets lost Game 1 of the Turner Cup Finals 4-1 to the Port Huron Icehawks.

How? Let me count the ways.

1) A huge amount of turnovers. 2) Not enough energy. 3) Not enough hitting. 4) No traffic in front of the net. 5) A huge amount of turnovers. 6) Stupid penalties. 7) A huge amount of turnovers. 8) Overconfidence, just perhaps.

The shots were 22-22. When was the last time that happened? The Komets averaged 40 shots per game in the first round. They gave up a couple of 5-on-3 power-play goals. A bunch of the star players were invisible.

Just an all-around yucky night for the Komets.

The Icehawks played a near-perfect road game. They didn't allow scoring chances. They capitalized on their chances. They frustrated the Komets. Going back to Port Huron, Mich., for Game 2 tonight on smaller ice, the Komets said they're readying to play hard against the boards. And the Icehawks said, since Fort Wayne played so well there in the regular season, they're taking nothing for granted.

The best players in the game, for Fort Wayne, in order: Justin Hodgman, Colin Chaulk, Mitch Woods, Evgeny Saidachev, Matt Reynolds. But really, it was hard to come up with that list. The best players for Port Huron: Kris Vernarsky, Tab Lardner, Larry Sterling, Jamie Lovell, Jamie Carroll.

The Komets really need P.C. Drouin, Guy Dupuis and Luciano Aquino to have bigger positive impacts in Game 2.

Click here to read the live blog of Paul Costanzo of the Port Huron Times-Herald.

By the way, with Robbie Laird, director of pro scouting for the Los Angeles Kings in the building, this wasn't the best night for the Komets to lay an egg. Who knows, maybe he'll like Hodgman, who has one more year of draft eligibility left.

May 02, 2008

I haven't see this much face-washing outside of a dog grooming salon. Seriously, players are ripping off helmets, scratching cheeks, picking other players' noses. Just dirty stuff, by both teams. But hey, it's a heckuva lot of fun. Thankfully, for the most part, they're letting it go. This is playoff hockey.

The ice is terrible. The Komets' playmakers are generally invisible. The goaltending at both ends is solid.

It's still Port Huron leading Fort Wayne 2-1, midway through the second period.

I looked at replay of the Fort Wayne goal. It's not a great view of it, but it looked like Justin Hodgman came out of the corner, lost control of the puck and it ricocheted off Larry Sterling and into the net. Then there's a kicking motion, but that came before the puck went in. So, I think it was a legal goal, I just don't know how the heck it went in.

Nothing was working right early for the Fort Wayne Komets, in Game 1 of the Turner Cup Finals. They looked tentative and gave up a short-handed goal and a 5-on-3 power play goal.

But that seems to have awoken the slumbering giant. Actually more than anything, I think Icehawks fiery goalie Larry Sterling did. He slashed Mitch Woods viciously, twice, just a couple of plays in what has been a pretty chippy game.

Not long after, Justin Hodgman came out of the right corner, fell and somehow got the puck in. Sterling about blew a gasket, apparently claiming the puck was kicked in. He's so emotional, which may work for or against the Icehawks.

Anyway, Port Huron leads 2-1 late in the first period.

By the way, Paul Costanzo of the Port Huron Times Herald is doing a live blog. Click here to check it out.

Let the Turner Cup Finals begin! As I predicted, Nick Boucher will be in net for the Komets tonight. And the referee will be John Searle.

Lots of people in the press box. I haven't seen it this full in years. Commissioner Paul Pickard, vice-president Brad Jones and referee Bob Langdon, who is the backup referee in case something happens to Searle, are i nthe box. So is former Komets coach/player Robbie Laird, director of pro scouting with the Los Angeles Kings.

May 01, 2008

The Komets' practice this morning involved a lot of work on plays and technical skills. The players seemed focused but loose.

I was able to catch coach Al Sims' post-practice speech. He basically thanked the players for a good hard week of work and told them to enjoy being in the Turner Cup Finals.

He relayed some stories from early in his career with the Boston Bruins, about being in the Stanley Cup Finals as a rookie and thinking, after they lost, he'd having plenty of other chances to hoist it. He only got one but never won it.

So, the message was to relish the experience, whether the players were young or old, because chances like this don't come around often. Sims also told them not to take Port Huron lightly and that the first-round victory over Muskegon should have shown the Komets that they have to be at their best to win.

He also said if they win the Turner Cup, he's sure the championship rings would be something they'd cherish.

Kevin Hansen, who was struck in the head with a puck Wednesday, wasn't on the ice but was there. I'm not sure whether he'll play Friday.

April 30, 2008

Nothing says playoff hockey like a bottle of Pepto-Bismal on the bench. I'm told it's been there almost every practice this season, though I'd never noticed it. So, which player guzzles the stuff every skate?

Fort Wayne Komets defenseman Kevin Hansen had to be helped off the ice, after he was struck by a puck near his ear. Coach Al Sims said he believes Hansen will be fine come Friday's Game 1 of the Turner Cup Finals against the Port Huron Icehawks, but it looked like Hansen will require stitches at the very least. By the time I got to the locker room, he was already on his way to the hospital.

Regardless, Brandon Warner had better get ready for some more ice time.

The players were very loose at practice; many stayed out an extra hour just to mess around.

April 29, 2008

Thinking ahead to the Turner Cup Finals, who will be the Komets' most important players?

First of all, I think center Mathieu Curadeau will be pivotal. His scoring will be an obvious need. But more than that, his defensive play will be necessary against the Port Huron Icehawks' playmakers. And Curadeau is physical, which will come in handy, especially in the tight confines of the McMorran Arena rink.

I also think defensemen Brent Henley and Kevin Bertram will have large roles. They will have to keep traffic away from the Fort Wayne net and also pummel people in the corners. Again, at McMorran, they'll have the opportunities to do so.

Mitch Woods will have to do what he did in the first round: Agitate the opposition into dumb penalties. Some scoring from Woods would be good, too.

And of course, there are the obvious: Colin Chaulk, Guy Dupuis and both goaltenders, Kevin Reiter and Nick Boucher. P.C. Drouin will also have to be solid on the power play, as he was in the regular season.

I've had some e-mails from readers wanting to know about a rumored fan-organized bus trip. If you have details on that -- who to call, price, etc. -- please post them in the comments section.

This was passed along to me by the Komets' front office:

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April 26, 2008

MUSKEGON, Mich. -- The Fort Wayne Komets took care of business early -- they scored three goals on the first six shots -- and they treated it like business as usual after winning 5-1 Saturday night.

In other words, it wasn't the most jubilant locker room I've ever been in, mostly because the Komets felt they could have been playing this way all along.

But they didn't and so we had a more tense series than anyone expected, at least until the Komets won 3-0 on Friday and then whooped up on Muskegon in this one. The Komets won the semifinals series 4-2 and will face the Port Huron Icehawks in the best-of-seven Turner Cup Finals.

That series will begin Friday at Memorial Coliseum, team president Michael Franke said, with the rest of the schedule to be finalized on Monday. You can count on another 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 format though, because of building availabilities.

I can tell you there is some disgruntlement from the Komets' organization that the Coliseum didn't set aside some Saturday night dates for them at this time of year. They've got a point, considering Fort Wayne has missed the postseason only once since 1996. The Komets, and by extension the fans, will pay for the lack of available dates. But I'm sure the Freedom football fans have been happy with the home games.

After dropping the first two road games against the Fury, the Komets dismantled Fury starting goalie Isaac Reichmuth on Saturday. They knew all season long he was weak glove-side and they exploited it, and he was yanked from a third straight start. I'm not sure what Fury coach Bruce Ramsay was thinking starting Reichmuth, after two strong outings by Clayton Pool. But Ramsay did a good job this season with limited talent.

As if Reichmuth doesn't have enough to worry about right now, the Fury's official scorers have him allowing three goals on three shots, even though the unreliable shot clock had six shots on the board when he was yanked. That won't look good on his record.

Speaking of surprise starters, Fort Wayne's Kevin Reiter was solid with 15 saves, one night after Nick Boucher had the 23-save shutout. I was flabbergasted that Boucher didn't start tonight and Fort Wayne coach Al Sims had a grin on his face about the decision before he hopped onto the bus.

By the way, I know some fans wanted to greet the team when it gets back into town. I'm estimating, it'll be back at the Coliseum at about 2 a.m., but, um, don't quote me on it.

MUSKEGON, Mich. -- Even in a season of much dominance, I haven't seen the Komets be this commanding too often.

They scored three goals on their first six shots and are up 3-0 late in the first period against the Muskegon Fury, which has been outshot 10-1. Goaltender Isaac Reichmuth, a surprise starter for the Fury, was yanked after those three goals.

The Komets are all over them in every respect. The Fury looked asleep early on; it was unable to even clear the puck from its own zone.

However, let's remember, the Komets have blown two-goal leads in their previous two trips up here, both losses.

MUSKEGON, Mich. -- All through these playoffs, I've been wondering why no high-ranking members of the International Hockey League were at the games evaluating things like the officiating.

Well, tonight, vice-president of hockey operations Brad Jones is attendance for Game 6, with the Komets leading the Muskegon Fury 3-2. The referee, as many predicted, is John Searle. So, I'm setting the over/under on power plays at 16.

Meanwhile, as I was making my third drive up to Muskegon in a week, I was thinking, "Hmm, I haven't see the Komets' bus broken down yet and that always happens this time of year." Sure enough, then I pass the team bus on the side of the road. Apparently, a window blew out on the trip, giving coach Al Sims a windy ride. They're trying to fix it now.

By the way -- Kevin Reiter will be in net for the Komets, even though Nick Boucher had the shutout Friday.

After his team defeated the Muskegon Fury 3-0 on Friday night, to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven International Hockey League semifinals series, Fort Wayne coach Al Sims had this to say: "What a great time for the best goalie in the league to get a shutout."

Whoa. That was interesting on many levels.

First of all, it was Fort Wayne's Kevin Reiter, not Nick Boucher, who won the Best Goaltender Award this season. So it was interesting to actually hear someone voice that Boucher is superior. But secondly, it summed up the victory. Boucher was so-so in his previous playoff appearance, the 4-3 loss at Muskegon in Game 2, which was more memorable for Boucher getting into a mid-game scuffle with teammate Kevin Bertram, and this brought Boucher some redemption.

But it wasn't just him. The entire defense was solid. Much, much more like the Komets of the regular season, eh? So I would expect Boucher to get the start Saturday at L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon, Mich.

If we've learned anything from this series, which has seen the home team win every game, it's that the Komets are a different team on the road. What they want to do now is not have the penalty marred, defensively absent hiccup in the middle of the game that's dogged them the last two trips up there.

I gotta say, I still think we're back here for Game 7 on Tuesday. Why? Because I don't get the impression Muskegon came away from this game thinking they can't play with the Komets, just because they were shutout. This was closely matched, it's just that Muskegon didn't get a lot of great offensive opportunities. But there were a few; it's just that the so-called best goalie in the league snubbed them.

By the way, the Port Huron Icehawks won the other semifinals series 4-1, thanks to a 4-3 overtime victory Friday. Josh Aspelind had the winner.

The Komets' Colin Chaulk lucked out in the second period, getting only a minor penalty for tripping, after he drove Kyle Kos head-first into the boards. I wouldn't have had a problem with a double-minor or even a major penalty. A couple of minutes later, Chaulk did get a double-minor, for high-sticking Dave Van Drunen.

Kudos to referee Craig Welker for a game well called.

Congrats to Bill Schwartz (aka Steve Fletcher), the Ice Chips reader who won the musical chairs competition in the second intermission. Cheater! I must give kudos to Hoss for his grab-the-chair -and-run-away-with-it method. And Conley? Wow, time for a diet if you're breaking the chair. Kidding, I'm kidding.

Tonight's game will be replayed on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m. on Comcast 55 and Verizon 25.

Brace yourselves: I'm hearing if the Komets advance to the final, it'll be another 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 series. But that's just preliminary speculation and could definitely change. If I were the Komets, though, especially having seen what's happened in this back-and-forth series, I'd lobby hard for a 2-3-2.

April 25, 2008

The Komets have scratched forward Terry Marchant and defenseman Ken Dufresne from tonight's Game 5 of the semifinals. I'm not sure yet if Marchant is a healthy scratch. Regardless, Evgeny Saidachev will be in the lineup for the first time during the playoffs.

During the second intermission of tonight's Game 5 between the Komets and the Muskegon Fury, there will be a musical chairs promotion involving several Ice Chips readers. Cheers to the Komets for taking notice of the passion of my Ice Chips minions and involving them in this. There are some prizes, including a team autographed stick.

April 24, 2008

Pardon me as I unglue my keister from my car seat. Yes, all this travel back and forth to and fro Muskegon, Mich., is grueling.

Anyway, sources have informed me that the Komets were pretty loose at practice, even though they're surprisingly tied with Muskegon at 2 in the best-of-seven series.

I have to believe that Clayton Pool will be in net for Muskegon on Friday at Memorial Coliseum. Normally, that would be OK news for the Komets, since they've done pretty well against him in the past, but he was solid in the Fury's 6-5 victory Wednesday, after replacing Isaac Reichmuth. And let's not forget, Pool looked like an MVP candidate for some of this season.

Never one to shy away from putting pressure on a player, I think P.C. Drouin has to become a pivotal player for Fort Wayne. If he doesn't produce in the next three games, the Komets could be in trouble. I also think Terry Marchant could have a big role to play.

Maybe it's just because I'm a Red Wings fan, but this is sacrilege. The NHL is spitting on tradition with this one. Note to the NHL brass: You had better tell your beloved Versus network to stop using the octopus in all their commercial breaks if you frown on it so much. And check this out.

The Komets never gave me a "lineup" for the musical chairs promotion of Ice Chips readers, which will take place in the second intermission Friday. So shoot me an e-mail at jcohn@jg.net with your real and/or screen name, if you're scheduled to participate, so I can let the fellow readers know who you are so they can laugh, I mean, cheer.

April 23, 2008

MUSKEGON, Mich -- Well, that was a horrible game to watch, an interesting game to cover.

The Fort Wayne Komets lost 6-5 to the Muskegon Fury in front of 1,565 fans at mostly vacant L.C. Walker Arena on Wednesday. It evened their best-of-seven semifinals series at two games apiece.

Both teams were understandably frustrated with the officiating. (I want to emphasize these comments came from both locker rooms.) Both teams said they just don't know what constitutes a penalty anymore and that the International Hockey League must get its act together when it comes to putting together a good playoff hockey product.

There were 33 penalties called by referee Kevin Graber. Fort Wayne was 1 for 13 on the power play. Muskegon was 1 for 7. The fans were incensed.

Enough about that, though.

The Komets' top-rated defense turned in one of its worst efforts of the season. It hadn't allowed this many goals since 2007. They were turning the puck over and, even though he stopped only 12 of 18 shots, I don't know how much, if at all, goalie Kevin Reiter was to blame. The game-winning short-handed goal from Jeff Nelson, his third goal of the night, was a little suspect. But Mitch Woods, who was covering him, maybe should have pressured him a bit more before the shot from the right circle, but that's nitpicking one play on a night of many mistakes by almost everyone.

And the Komets must get a hold of their tempers, whether the refereeing stinks or not. Mathieu Curadeau got a spearing major and game misconduct, although he didn't think it was deserved, and that cost Fort Wayne its top two centers because Colin Chaulk was suspended from this game for leaving the bench during a Game 3 fight. With those two out, then David Hukalo took a 10-minute misconduct for complaining about a call. With Hukalo, the league's best defensive player, in the box, the Fury got the game-tying and game-winning goals.

But let's be fair, the Fury is being equally foolish in its actions.

It really all came down to the defense. Fort Wayne's wasn't as good as usual and it cost the Komets.

This is why home-ice advantage is crucial, even in a series with a 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 format. (By the way, have I thanked anyone lately for that jewel?) It's now best-of-three with two games at Memorial Coliseum, beginning Friday, then back here Saturday.

I have no idea which goalie the Komets will go with in Game 5. My gut tells me it'll be Reiter again, though.

The Komets' best player in this game: Brandon Warner, who filled in at forward. I also think Brent Henley has been really good. Other notables for Fort Wayne tonight include Woods, Kevin Bertram and Matt Reynolds. The Fury's best players tonight: Nelson; goalie Clayton Pool, who stopped all 27 shots after Isaac Reichmuth was pulled; Dan Riedel, who the Komets cannot solve; and David Herring.

Initially, I called Komets in five. Now I think this one is going all seven. Why do I think that? The Komets just don't look as composed as they did in the regular season and, truth be told, they haven't the entire playoffs.

MUSKEGON, Mich. -- The fans at L.C. Walker Arena, small in number they may be, are awfully restless. I don't blame them a bit.

Through one period of play, referee Kevin Graber has award eight power plays, six in favor of Fort Wayne. Whatever happened to letting the boys play in the postseason?

In a league that's begging for credibility, having both teams and all the fans flabergasted game after game by the officiating, it just doesn't bode well. It's not just the quantity of calls; it's that no one knows what constitutes a penalty anymore.

Rant over -- because the game has been even stranger. The Komets lead 4-3. It's been sloppy. Lots of turnovers by both teams. Some nice offense, I guess, and non-existent defense. At one point, there were four goals in the span of 44 seconds.

Fort Wayne has goals from Mathieu Curadeau, Luciano Aquino, Sergei Durdin and David Hukalo. Goalie Revin Reiter hasn't got much help and allowed the three goals on five shots.